Stephen “tWitch” Boss presents the top Latin artist at the Billboard Music Awards in Los Angeles 2020.
Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
hide captions
switch captions
Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Stephen “tWitch” Boss presents the top Latin artist at the Billboard Music Awards in Los Angeles 2020.
Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP
Stephen “tWitch” Boss, longtime and beloved dance DJ on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and former “So You Think You Can Dance” contestant, has died aged 40.
His wife, Allison Holker Boss, confirmed his death in a statement posted Wednesday on Everyone.com.
“With the heaviest of hearts, I must share that my husband Stephen has left us,” she said. “Stephen lights up every room he walks into. He values family, friends and community above all else and leading with love and light is everything to him. He is the mainstay of our team. our family, the best husband and father, and an inspiration to our fans.”
Her statement did not include details of his cause of death.
tWitch began her tenure on “The Ellen Show” in 2014 and was later promoted to co-executive producer in 2020.
“I am heartbroken. tWitch is pure love and light. He is my family, and I love him with all my heart. I will miss him. Please send your love and support. you go to Allison and his beautiful kids – Weslie, Maddox, and Zaia,” Ellen DeGeneres announced on Twitter, along with a photo of the two hugging backstage.
The dancer and DJ has also appeared in movies like “Step Up: All In” and “Magic Mike XXL” and featured in Disney+’s “The Hip Hop Nutcracker,” released this year. He also won runner-up on “So You Think You Can Dance” and later served as a judge on season 17 of the dance competition show.
The Alabama native studied performing dance at Southern Union State Community College and Chapman University.
His love of dance permeates every aspect of his life as he longs to emulate greats like Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire.
“My personal opinion: The greatest of all time has to be Gene Kelly, man. Gene Kelly, because he’s a man’s man. I love Fred Astaire, but Fred Astaire is too smooth , and that’s cool. He’s classy,” Boss said in an interview with The Associated Press in 2014. “But Gene Kelly — he can be like someone’s dad who just decided to stand up. Get up from your chair and jump around and clean up the kitchen.”
The boss posted dance videos on TikTok with his wife, also a professional dancer, and their children as guests.
Celebrities like Questlove and Kerry Washington took to social media to pay their respects.
“I have no words. May his family find a solution in this dark time. May we all find peace in our daily lives. Every day is a winding road and you may never know who is on the edge,” Questlove posted on Twitter. Instagram.
“Twitch has brought joy and love to people around the world through music and dance. Today, my heart is heavy for his family and all those who know and love him.” , Washington also posted on Instagram.
The boss’s departure was first reported by TMZ.
He lives with his wife and three children.
